Dust-collecting means



Jan. 31, 1939. w. NOBLE DUST COLLECTING MEANS Filed April 2'7, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet 1 [72067220?: Warren M03249 9% A W Jan. 31, 1939. w NOBLE2,145,272

DUST COLLECTING MEANS Filed April 27, 1935 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 III///III/////A warren Nafiie Jan. 31, 1939. NOBLE 2,145,272

DUST COLLECTING MEANS Filed April 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 may Jan. 31,1939.

W NOBLE DUST COLLECTING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1955Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES DUST-COILECTING MEANS Warren Noble,Michigan City, Ind., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, acorporation of Massachusetts Application April 27, 1935, Serial No.18,632

14 Claims.

This invention relates to dust-collecting means, and relates moreparticularly to improvements in dust-collecting means especiallydesigned for use with a hammer rock drill for removing the dust from themouth of the drill hole.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved dust-collectingmeans especially designed for use with a hammer rock drill for removingthe dust created by the drill bit from the mouth in of the drill hole.Another object is to provide an improved dust-collecting deviceassociated with the rock drill and having embodied therein meansactuated by an element of the rock drill for maintaining thedust-collecting device in operative relation with respect to the mouthof the drill hole. A further object is to provide an improveddustcollecting means whereby the dust-collecting device is maintained inoperative dust-collecting relation by means actuated by an element ofthe t drill steel rotation means. A further object is to provide animproved dust-collecting means wherein the dust-collecting device ismounted on the body of the drill steel and embodying means actuated bythe rotary motion of the drill steel for holding the dust-collectingdevicedn operative relation with respect to the drill hole. Anotherobject is to provide in a dust-collecting means of the above characterimproved means for attaching the dust-collecting device to the rockdrill steel whereby said device may be readily attached to the drillsteel without necessitating the removal of the drill steel from thedrill hole or from the rock drill. These and other objects andadvantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear.

The invention, from one aspect, may comprise a dust receiver having anopening through which the drill steel of a rock drill extends, thereceiver.

preferably in the form of a dust hood having a suction line connected tothe dust-receiving chamber for conducting the dust from the hood to asuitable receptacle, and embodying means mounted on the dust hood andengaging the drillsteeland actuated by the rotative motion of the 5drill steel for always maintaining the dust hood in properdust-receiving relation with respect to the mouth of the ;drill hole.The means for maintaining the dust hood in dust-receiving relation withthe mouth of the drill hole may comprise a wear plate mounted on thedust hood and engaging one side of the drill steel and an opposed rollerjournaled on the dust hood and inclined with respect to the drill steelso that the. rotation of the steel always urges the roller in a forwarddirection outwardly along the drill steel to move the dust hood to itsdust-receiving position, although if desired the wear plate may bereplaced by one or more rollers so that the tendency to move the dusthood outwardly along the drill steel is even more definite. Although theroller or a rollers, in a preferred form of the invention, are idlyjournaled on hearings on the dust hood, and are rotated and performtheir dusthood-advancing function by virtue of the positive rotation ofthe drill steel, power roller drive may be substi- 1c tuted. Forexample, a friction roller may be driven by power, as through a flexibleshaft. Obviously, if a plurality (desirably two, to form a triangulararrangement) of slanting rollers be mounted on the dust hood and replacethe wear 15 plate, this resulting triple-roller arrangement will providean even more definite feeding action, irrespective of the mode in whichrelative steel and roller rotation is efiected.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown 20 for purposes ofillustration one form and a modification which the invention may assumein practice.

I In these drawings,

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the illus- 5 trative form of theimproved dust-collecting means showing the same associated with a hammerrock drill of the stoper type,

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially on line 22of Fig. 1, showing de-= so tails of the rock drill structure,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the improved dust hood, parts beingshown in section to illustrate structural details, Fig. 4 is a sideelevational view dust hood,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing the slot closuregate in its open position,

Fig. 6 is adetail sectional] view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line ll-TI of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in verticalsection showing the dustseparating unit,

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the dust-receiving tank,

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line w lt-it of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on line ill-ll of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 'is.a detail sectional view taken on line 02-43 of Fig. 8,

of the improved 35 .3 as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a modified form of dust-agitating means,

Fig..14 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified formof construction,

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view, partially broken away, of the dust hoodshown in Fig. 14,

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line Iii-l6 ofFig. 15,

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15, with parts broken away, showingthe slot closure gate in its open position,

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the dusthood shown in Fig. 15.

In this illustrative construction, as shown in the drawings, ldesignates a hammer rock drill of the stoper type, 2 the dust-collectingdevice, and 3 the dust-separating means. The rock drill l is of anordinary construction comprising a hammer motor 4 for percussivelyactuating and rotating a rock drill steel 5 and having a pneumatic feedleg 6 for feeding the drill steel toward the work: during the drillingoperation. The hammer motor comprises a cylinder I having a pistonchamber containing a reci'procatory hammer piston 8 provided with astriking nose for delivering, through a usual tappet, impact blows tothe shank of the drill steel 5. The drill steel shank is supportedwithin a chuck 9 rotatably mounted within a front chuck housing I0. Asis usual in rock drills of the type disclosed, means is provided foreffecting rotation of the drill steel 5 as the latter is percussivelyactuated, comprising a spirally grooved rifle bar ii having a slidinginterlocking connection with a rifle nut l2 fixed within the hammerpiston 8, and this rifle bar is secured to a pawl carrier 03 carryingusual spring-pressed pawls id engaging the teeth of a ratchet ring i5fixed within the rearward end of the hammer motor. As the hammer pistonmoves forwardly to strike its blow on the drill steel shank, the pawlsid of the pawl carrier l3 slip over the teeth of the ratchet ring I5,and as the piston moves rearwardiy on its return stroke the pawls engagethe ratchet teeth to hold the rifle bar H against rotation, and as aresult the hammer piston is given a rotary movement. The rotary pistonmotion is transmitted to the drill steel through straight grooves l6formed on the piston nose and having sliding interlocking connectionwith straight vanes l7 formed on a chuck nut it fixed within a rotatablechuck sleeve l9 which carries the drill steel chuck 5. It is accordinglyevident that as the drill steel 5 is percussively actuated it is at thesame time rotated. The drill steel 5 may be provided in a usual mannerwith an axial bore through which pressure fluid may flow from theforward 'end of the piston chamber through the piston nose grooves l6past the lands ll of the chuck nut, and through the tappet, to expel thedust created by the drill bit from the drill hole in a well-knownmanner.

Now referring to the improved dust-collecting means, it will be notedthat the same herein includes a dust hood 20 of generally circular shapehaving a circular flange or rim 2| adapted to rest against the workingface in a position surrounding the mouth of the drill hole. The hood 20is -provided with a dust chamber 22 for receiving the dust expelled fromthe drill hole, and this chamber is connected through a flexible suctionhose 25 to the dust-separating unit The flange or rim 2| is slotted at26 to provide passages through which atmospheric air may flow freely andin unre- 7 stricted volume past the rim to the dust chamber 22 as asuction is created by the separating means 3 within the hose 25. Thissuction, created by the separating unit 3 within the hose 25, draws thedust expelled from the drill hole into the dust chamber, the suction atthe same time drawing in atmospheric air through the rim slots 26. Theair-entrained dust in the chamber 22 and hose 25 is drawn into the dustseparator 3 in a manner to be presently described.

To enable ready attachment of the dust hood 20 to the drill steel bodywithout removing the drill steel from the drill hole or from the rockdrill chuck, there is provided in the hood casing an arcuate open-sidedslot 21 communicating at its inner end with an opening 28 formedcentrally within the hood 20 and through which the drill steel extends.The open side of this slot 21, when the hood is placed in position onthe steel body, is closed by a gate 29 pivoted at 30 on the hood body,and urged toward its closed position by a coiled spring 3|. When thegate 29 is closed thereis formed centrally through the hood an openingthrough which the drill steel extends with the hood closely embracingthe steel body.

The improved means for maintaining the dust hood in position against theworking face with the slotted hood rim 2i surrounding the mouth of thedrill hole, comprises a friction roller 32, preferably composed ofrubber, held in yielding frictional contact with the steel body by thegate spring 3!, and this roller is journaled on a bearing pin 33supported by an adjustable member 34. The member 34 is of cylindricalform and is rotatably mounted in a bore 35 former; in a cylindrical boss36 integral with the gate 29. The axis of the roller is so inclined withrespect to the axis of drill steel rotation that as the drill steelrotates the roller tends to climb up the steel, at all times yieldin'glyforcing the hood into its proper dust-collecting position with respectto the hole mouth. An arcuate wear plate 31, secured to the hood casingand fixed to the wall of the central hood opening 28, provides a shoeslidingly engaging the side of the steel body opposite from the roller.The roller bearing pin 33, as above pointed out, is supported'within anadjustable member 34, and this member 34 is provided with a serratedprojection 38fitting a serrated socket 39 formed in the boss 35, and bythis serrated projection the pin supporting member 34 may be adjustedwith respect to the gate boss to vary the inclination of the roller.axis 7 with respect to the axis of rotation of the drill steel.

The dust-separating unit 3 comprises a'truck frame 42 mounted on a pairof wheels 43 and having an adjustable leg 44 attached to the frameand'providing a handle portion 45 whereby the separator unit may bereadily wheeled from place to place. The suction hose 25, as shown inFig. 8, is connected by a detachable coupling 46 within an opening 41formed within a detachable head plate 48 secured to the frame-42. Thishead plate 48 forms a closure for a suction chamber 49, within whichthere is arranged a suction fan 50... Carried by the frame 42 is a motor5|, herein preferably of the pressure-fiuid-actuated type, having itspower shaft 52 connected to the fan 50 for driving the latter. The dustsucked from the hose 25 by the fan 50 is discharged from the chamber 49through a discharge passage 53 connected by a conduit 54 to the upperend of a dust-receiving tank 55. This tank has a dust-receiving chamber56, and fixed by a ring 51 to the upper end of the tank is a cloth hood58 through which the air from the tank is discharged to atmosphere. Thetank has handles 59 and may be readily removed from the frame 52 tofacilitate removal of the collected dust therefrom. Pressure fluid issupplied to the motor 5| through a supply hose 80 controlled by a valve6|. Means is provided for agitating the heavy particles of dust whichmight collect at the bottom of the suction hose, comprising a branchpipe connection 62 leading from the supply pipe 60 and having a controlvalve 63. This pipe connection 62 communicates at 64 with a conduit 65extending a comparatively short distance within the suction hose, theconduit having a series of longitudinally spaced openv ings throughwhich pressure fluid is discharged to the passage in the suction pipe25, this pressure fluid agitating the heavy particles of dust collectedin the suction pipe, thereby to facilitate dust removal. In the modifiedform of construction shown in Fig. 13, the mea'ns'for agitating theheavy particles of dust collected within the suction hose comprises aflexible element 66, herein preferably in the form of a short piece ofcoiled spring arranged within the suction hose and connected at 61 tothe fan drive shaft 52. As the fan 50 is driven the free inner end ofthe agitating spring 66 is whipped around within the suction hose,thereby to agitate the heavy particles of dust therein.

In the modified form of dust hood shown in Figs. 14 to 18, inclusive,the wear plate has been supplanted by slanting guide rollers and theroller for moving and holding the hood in dust receiving relation withrespect to the mouth of the drill hole is power driven throughconnections driven by the motor of the dust separator unit. In thisillustrative construction a pair of guide rollers 10 and II arepreferably journaled on axes inclined with respect to-the drill steelaxis, on the bottom of the hood casing; these rollers taking the placeof the wear plate 31 shown in Fig. 3, and providing means supplementingthe power driven roller for moving the dust hood outwardly along thedrill steel into' engagement with the working face at the mouth of thedrill hole. The drive roller 12, which takes the place of the roller 32of the form of the invention above described, is yieldingly held infrictional contact with the drill steel by the coil spring actingbetween the pivoted gate 29 and the hood casing, and therefore, thethree rollers 10, II and 12, due to their triangular arrangement, engagethe drill steel at three equally spaced points. To afford means formoving the dust hood along the drill steel into proper dustreceivingrelation with respect to the mouth of the drill hole and for holding thehood in such position independently of any rotative motionof the drillsteel, the roller 12 is power driven, and the roller driving means inthis instance comprises, as shown in Figs. 14 and 16, a flexibletransmission shaft driven in a suitable manner from the power shaft 52of the motor 5| for driving the suction fan 50 of the dust separatorunit. In this instance the adjustment of the roller support member 34may be dispensed with and the rotative axis of the roller 12 may be setat a predetermined angle with respect to the drill steel. The mode ofoperation of this form of the invention is the same as that abovedescribed, except, in this instance, the rotary motion of the drillsteel is not relied upon in the moving of the dusthood into 'and holdingthe same in dustreceiving position with respect to the drill hole, andthe roller 12 is power driven by the motor of the dust separator unitthrough the flexible shaft unit. Otherwise, this form of the inventionis the-same as that above described.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improveddust-collecting means especially designed to use with a hammer rockdrill is provided, whereby the dust created in the drill hole by thedrill bit is removed from the hole in an extremely effective manner. Itwill further be noted that by the provision of the means actuated by therotary motion of the drill steel of the hammer drill, thedust-collecting hood is always maintained in proper dust-collectingposition with respect to the mouth of the drill hole. Other uses andadvantages of the improved dust-collecting meanswill be clearly apparentto those skilled in the'art;

While I have in this application specifically described one form and amodification thereof which my invention may assume in practice, it willbe understood that this form and modification of the same are shown forpurposes of iilustration, and that the invention may be further modifiedand embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit orthe scope, of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a rock drill having drill steel actuatingmeansand a drill steel actuated thereby. of a. dust-collecting meanscomprising a dust hood mounted on the drill steel,

and dust. hood feeding means comprising a friction feeding rollercarried by said dust hood and engaging the drill steel and actuated bymovement of the latter, said friction roller rotatable by the drillsteel to effect feed of the bodily rlative to the drill steel intoproper dustcollecting relation with respect to the mouth of the drillhole and to maintain the dust hood in such dust-collecting relation.

2. The combination with a rock drill having drill steel rotation means,of dust-collecting means including a dust hood mounted on the drillsteel for receiving the dust expelled from the drill hole, and dust hoodfeeding means movable bodily with the dust hood and actuated by therotary motion of the drill steel for feeding said dust hood by suchrotary motion bodily relative to the drill steel for maintaining saiddust hood in proper dust collecting relation with respect to the mouthof the drill hole, said dust hood feeding means comprising a frictionfeeding roller engaging the drill steel and rotatable thereby to effectfeed of the dust hood bodily relative to the drill steel.

3. In a dust collector for rock drills, a dust receiving ,hood having anopen-sided slot permitting lateral attachment of the hood to a rockdrill steel, a gate for closing the open side of said slot, a spring formaintaining said gate closed, and means for feeding the dust hood bodilyoutwardly relative to the drill steel comprising a steel engaging rollermounted on said gate and actuated by said steel, said spring alwaysurging said roller into frictional engagement with the steeL- I 4. Incombination, a drill element, hammering means therefor, and means forcollecting dust produced by thedrilling operation of-.said drill elementincluding a dust receiver adapted to be positioned at the face adjacentthe hole being secure bydust hood:

- to the mouth of the hole being drilled including at least one feedingroller element engaging the drill element and rotatable on an axis at anangle to the drill element, and means for effecting relative rotation ofsaid elements by power.

6. The combination with a rock drill having drill steel rotating meansand a drill steel rotated thereby for forming a drill hole, of a dusthood mounted on and surrounding the drill steel and relative to whichthe latter is rotatable, and dust hood feeding means mounted on saiddust hood and comprising a feeding element actuated by the rotary motionof the drill steel for moving by such; rotary motion said dust hoodbodily outwardly along the drill steel into proper dust-receivingrelation with respect to the mouth of the drill hole.

7. The combination with a rock drill having means for reciprocating androtating a drill steel and a drill steel actuated thereby for forming adrill hole, of a dust receiver mounted on and surrounding the drillsteel for receiving the dust expelled from the drill hole, said drillsteel reciprocable relative to said dust receiver, and dust receiverfeeding means mounted on said dust receiver and comprising a feedingelement movciprocable, and means mounted on said dust hood.

and actuated by the rotary motion of the drill steel for moving saiddust hood bodily outwardly along the drill steel into properdust-receiving relation with respect to the mouth of the drill hole,said dust hood moving means including a friction roller journaled onsaid dust hood and r arranged with its axis of rotation inclined withrespect to said drill steel, said roller frictionally engaging saiddrill steel and the rotary motion of said [drill steel causing saidroller to rotate to effect outward movement of said dust hood asaforesaid.

9. The combination with a rock drill having means for reciprocating androtating a drill steel and a drill steel actuated thereby for forming adrill hole, of a dust receiver mounted on and surrounding the drillsteel for receiving the dust expelled from the drill hole, said drillsteel reciprocable relative to said dust receiver, and means mounted onsaid dust receiver and engaging the drill steel and actuated by therotary motion of the latter for moving said dust receiver bodilyoutwardly relative to the drill steel into .contact with the workingface at the mouth of proper dust-receiving relation with respect to themouth of the drill hole, said dust receiver moving means including afriction roller journaled on said dust receiver and arranged with drillsteel, said roller frictionally engaging said drill steel and the rotarymotion of the steel causing said roller to rotate to effect outwardmovement of said dust receiver as aforesaid.

10. In combination, a drill element, hammering means therefor, and meansfor collecting dust produced by the drilling operation of said drillelement including a dust receiver adapted to be positioned at theworking face adjacent the hole being drilled, and means for moving thedust receiver bodily relative to the drill element into engagement withand for maintaining said receiver against the face including at leastone element rotatably mounted on the receiver and frictionally engagingthe drill element, and means for posig tively rotating at least one ofsaid elements.

11. In combination, a drill element, means for percussively actuatingthe same, a dust collector, and means for moving the dust collectorbodily relative to the drill element into engagement with 2 and formaintaining the collector in contiguity to the mouth of the hole beingdrilled including at least one feeding roller element mounted on thecollector and engaging the drill element, and means for effecting powerrotation of one of said elements.

12. In combination, a drill element, hammering means therefor, and meansfor collecting dust produced by the drilling operation of said drillelement including a dust receiver adapted to be positioned at theworking face adjacent the hole being drilled, and means for moving saiddust receiver bodily relative to the drill element and for maintainingsaid receiver against the working face including at least one feedingelement mounted thereon for rotation on an axis inclined to the axis ofthe drill element and frictionally engaging the latter, and means forpositively rotating at least one of said elements.

13. In combination, a drill element, means for percussively actuatingthe same, a dust collector, and means for moving the dust collectorbodily relative to the drill element and for maintaining the collectorin contiguity to the mouth of the hole being drilled including at leastone feeding roller element engaging the drill element and rotatable onan axis at an angle to the axis of the drill element, and means foreffecting power rotation of one of said elements.

14. The combination with a rock drillhaving drill steel rotating meansand a drill steel rotated thereby for forming a drill hole, of a dusthood mounted on and surrounding the drill steel and relative to whichthe latter is rotatable, and dust hood feeding means including arotatable feeding element mounted to move bodily with said dust hood andmaintained in frictional engagement with said drill steel and mountedfor rotation on an axis oblique to a line parallel to the drill steelaxis for feeding the dust hood into the drill hole on relative rotationbetween said feeding member and said drill steel, and means foreffecting such relative rotation.

WARREN NOBLE. 7

2 its axis of rotation inclined with respect to the 5

